N.F.L. WEEK 14

N.F.L. WEEK 14; Video Replay Is Star In Overtime for Patriots

Published: December 17, 2001

Video replay and Antowain Smith tipped another New England-Buffalo overtime game in the Patriots' favor.

Adam Vinatieri kicked a 23-yard field goal, his fourth of the game, moving the Patriots closer to a playoff berth with a 12-9 victory over the Bills yesterday in Orchard Park, N.Y.

The Patriots (9-5) have won four straight for the first time in two years. The Bills (2-11) lost for the seventh time in eight home games.

It was the fourth game in their last five meetings decided in overtime. The game turned on a video ruling during the Patriots' first possession, five minutes into overtime.

David Patten caught Tom Brady's pass at the Bills' 41, where he was hit hard by Buffalo's Keion Carpenter. The ball popped loose and was recovered by Buffalo's Nate Clements.

Initially ruled a fumble, Referee Mike Carey reversed the call, determining by a video review that Patten's head was out of bounds while the ball remained loose under his leg. Patten could not comment on the call. Carpenter's hit knocked him unconscious.

''I didn't know where I was; I could have been in Czechoslovakia,'' Patten said. ''I thought I let the team down, but the replay was one thing that went our way.''

Carey said the video review was indisputable. ''By rule, if a loose ball touches anything that is out of bounds, it is itself out of bounds,'' he said.

Smith broke the game open on the ensuing play, bouncing off the pile and down the sideline before he was pushed out of bounds at the 3. Vinatieri sealed the victory with the 11th game-winning field goal of his career. Vinatieri sent the game into overtime with a 25-yard field goal with 2 minutes 45 seconds left.

The Colts (5-8) ended a five-game losing streak and sent Atlanta (6-7) to its third straight loss.

Rhodes's total, which came on 29 carries, was the highest by a Colts rookie since 1956.

Manning completed 23 of 35 passes. He did it with an unusual mix of receivers.

Trevor Insley caught 3 passes for 53 yards, including the first touchdown of his career, and tight end Ken Dilger caught a 12-yard touchdown pass -- his first since Oct. 29, 2000, against Detroit. Reggie Wayne, a first-round draft pick, caught 5 passes for 78 yards.

Photo: Adam Vinatieri scored all the Patriots' points with four field goals. (Reuters)